Do you agree with Jung, that a dream can only be interpreted by the dreamer?

Answer 1

Yes, your dreams very much pertain to what's happening in your world...no one elses. I don't believe in that rubbish of a tooth symbolizing this or that.

You need to focus on what you are feeling when you are dreaming and what in your conscious life your unconscious might be trying to solve or bring to the surface.

Repetitive dreams are just fears that you can't seem to resolve or rise above or that "stay with you" such as an ongoing problem that just can't seem to be resolved. Children who are bullied may dream of the boogeyman always chasing them, etc...that kind of thing. When they can resolve it consciously, the dream will start fading and disappear altogether.

Now that's not to say you can make total sense of all dreams...most are just jumbled thoughts and images that get garbled together most of the time.

Toastette what you are saying is often the dreamer "can't see the forest because of the trees"...that is often true...and others can often help you decipher what your dream might be relating to in real life...so you just might not be able to make the connection because you can't see yourself objectivey.

Answer 2

Hi Chong

I know that Jung put a lot of emphasis on people being the best key to understanding themselves and hence their dreams.

But I do not think Jung concluded that the dreamer was the only one who could interpret his dream. I think Jung concluded that the dreamer was often the best one to draw final conclusions.

So once a person has a variety of interpretations to mull over they can decide for themselves if one fits their situation.

Answer 3

It would seem so,as we know our personality better and have a library of symbols that are only meaningful to us,but I don't think we are the best interpreters.

I have found that whilst I can interpret most peoples dreams with ease, I cannot interpret my own as well - I'm unable to be objective and already have a sketch in my mind of what I want/wish it to mean and have too many personal biases to know what it actually means.Asking others has always helped me to see it better,like looking at a paintng clear from a distance[objectively] not so close up.

Answer 4

even the waking life can only be interpreted by the eye that sees. much less a dream.
who knows,

there is a zen mondo :

Two monks were arguing about
the temple flag waving in the wind.
One said, "The flag moves."
The other insisted, "no, it is the wind that moves."
They argued back and forth but could not agree.

The Master was passing and inturrupted them,
"Gentlemen! It is not the flag that moves.
It is not the wind that moves.
It is the mind that moves."

The two monks were struck with awe.

Answer 5

Depends: if it is a dream in sequence, sometimes it takes two to decipher it. (In parts, over a few days!)
If it is a personal reaction to an event, very good day, or bad day, yes, in that case, I would agree with Jung!

Answer 6

Yes, I believe that there are multiple possible interpretations of dreams. One needs to understand the symbolic meaning of items within the dream in order to know best what they mean and how they relate to the analysand.

Answer 7

Ultimately, yes... but I also think that certain symbols (archetypes) are universal. I believe Jung said this, too?

Answer 8

no, i think some things we are blind to about ourselves (to borrow from the whole Johari window thing) and we would actually require the insight of someone else on some dreams

Answer 9

Yes i do!!! Books and others can guide you but only your heart can find you.